The Washington critic., 1887-10-01
MR.. LINCOLN INSTRUCTIONS
Interviews With Governor PiCkons and
Major Anderson.
AN UNSUCCESSFUL EFFORT.
Threatened with Mob Violence and
Saved by Lawrence Keitt.

In tne latter days OF hlrc1, lSOl, L
was sent by Mr.. Lincoln on confi-
dental mission to Charleston, s. G. 1t
was In Its nature one OF great dellcacy
and Importance, and the state of the
public mind in the South at that iupe,,
ture made 1t one not altogether free from
danger of life and limb, as was rather
roughly reminded before the adventure
was concluded. Throughout the whole
land was heard the tumult of mad oonten.
ton; the representative men, the poll
tlcians and the press of the two sections
were hurling at each other deadly threats
and fierce defiance; sober and thoughtful
men heard with sickenlug alarm the
deep and not distant mutterings of the
coming storm; aud all minds were
agitated by gloomy forebodlngs, dis.
tressing doubts, and exasperating un.
certainty as to what the next move In
the strange drama would be.
As South Carolina had been the first
to make au experimental test In the
matter of nullifyiDg Federal laws. so
she was the first to proclaim herself a
free and independent nation. AS early
as the 9th Of November, 1850, the
Legislature of that State had taken the
initial step In that wild work, on as
semblipg, to choose Presidential cleo
tors, who voted for Breckenridge and
Lane. On that occasion Governor
William IL. Gist had recommended in
his message that, In the event of tue
election of Abraham Lincoln, con.
vention of the people should be called
TO consider and determine "the mode
and measure of redress" for catalogue
of grievances which he enumerated,
lie then formulated the future policy
of the State by declaring that, on the
happening Of the contingency named,
the alternative would be "the secession
of South Carolina from the Federal
Union"
Following the lead OF South Caro-
lima the secession element Of other
Southern States had cut them loose,
one by one, from their Federal moor.
ings. and "The Confederate States of
America" was the result. 1t was at the
virtual Capital of the State which had
been the pioneer in all this naughty
and stupendous work of rebellion that
i was about to trust my precious limbs
enemy to her cause.
MR.. LINcoLN's POLICY.
Up to this time Mr.. Lincoln had
been slow to realize, or to acknowledge.
even to himself, the awful gravity of
the situation. and the danger that the
gathering clouds portendei. Certain
1t is that Mr.. Seward widely underrated
the courage and determination of the
Southern people, and both INDUCED
the hope that pacific means might yet
be employed to arrest the tide OF pas.
sion, and render resort TO force un
necessary. Mr.. Seward was inclined,
as the world knows. to credit the
Southern leaders with lavish
supply of noisy bravado, quite over.
looking the dogged pertinacity aud
courage which MIR. Lincoln well knew
would characterize those men, as well
as the Southern masses, In case OF
armed conflict between the sections.
Mr.. Lincoln had Southern blood in his
veins, and he knew well the character
of that people. He believed 1t possible
TO effect some accommodation by deal
ing directly with the most chivalrous
among their leaders; at all events he
thought it his duty to try. and my EN-.
bassy to Charleston was one Of his eX-
periments In that direction.
A DELICATE AND DANGEROUS MISSION
During the last months of Buchan-
ans administration, owing to Mr.. Sew.
ards fame, ability and prominence, 1t
was naturally supposed that he would
be Mr.. Lincolns most trusted adviser;
and, In fact, the opinion prevailed that
Seward would be President and Lincoln
mere figure head. II was believed In
the South that Mr.. Seward had given
assurance, before and after Mr.. Lin.
coins Inauguration, that no attempt
would be made to reinforce the South
ern forts or to resupply Fort Sumter
under Republican administration
This made matters embarrassing, as
Mr.. Lincoln's administration had on
the contrary, adopted the policy of
maintaining the Federal authority at
all points, and of toleratIng no inter.
ference In the enforcement of that au.
thority from any source whatever.
When my mission to Charleston was sug-
gested by Mr.. Lincoln, Mr. Seward promptly
opposed II, "Mr President" said he, 81
greatly fear that We are sending LamOu to
his grave. l fear they may kill him at
Charleston. Those people are greatly ex
cited and sre very desperate. We can't
spare LamOn, and we shall feel very badly
II anything serious should happen to him
"Mr. Secretary said SIR Lincoln, "l
have known LamOn to be in many a
close place, aud he has never been In one
that be didn't get out OF II. By ilug I'll
rick him. Co. Lsmou, AID God bless you.
Biiug back q palmetto II sou can't bring Us
gCOd news"
ARRIVAL IL CHARLESTON
Armed with certain credentials from tho
President, MIR. Seward, General scott, Post
master-General Blalr-and Others, set out
on my doubtful and ticklish adventure.
General (the Hon. stephen a. Hurlbut OF
IinOis and his wife, both having been
born in South Carolina, concluded to ac-
company me to Charleston. On arriving
there, about o'clock on Saturday night,
the Iiurlhuts went to the house OF kils-
man ard l went to the Charleston Hotel.
1t so happened that several young Vir-
ginlsns arrived on the same train aud
stopped at the same hotel. They all reg
ister,d from Virpinia, and made the fact
known that they had come 10 join the Con
f,derate Army, registered simply, "WaTd
Ii. LamoD,n followed by d long dash Of the
pen.
CONFERENCE WITH UNION MAN.
That eve pg and all the next day (Sun-
day littles milton was paid to me and no
ono knew me. visited the venerable aud
distinguished lawyer, Mr.. james l., Petit
grew, and had conference with hin, be-
ing enloined to do so by Mr.. Lincoln, who
personally knew that Mr. Petligrew was
Union man. At the close OF the interview
Mr.. Peitigrew said to me that he seldom
stirred from his house; that he had no sym
patty with the rash movements of his peo-
pie, and that few sympathizpd with hin: